Air Source Versus Geothermal Heat Pump Heating Systems . A heat pump is an electric cooling and heating system. It is used to compress and decompress gas to heat or cool a house. This mechanical device pumps heat from a cooler to a warmer location. It can extract heat from air, water or the earth. Heat pumps function like an air conditioner in the summer and an electric furnace in the winter. Therefore, encompassing both a heating and a cooling unit in one device. The COP, or coefficient of performance, calculates the ratio of heat output to electric power consumption. Therefore, COP& measures the performance of a heat pump.

Air Source Versus Geothermal Heat Pump Heating Systems - Energy Efficient Electric Heating & Cooling

Heat pumps are the most resourceful form of electric heating in moderate climates. They cool a house by collecting the heat inside the house and effectively pumping it outside. There are three types of heat pumps that one can install: air-to-air, water source and ground source. Heat pumps can collect heat from air, water or ground. They can utilize the same method to heat or cool your home. When installing a heat pump at home, one should consider using an energy-efficient heat pump system. Therefore, you must keep in mind the climate of the region.

Northern regions need either a specially engineered heat pump such as the Acadia heat pump system or they need a geothermal heat pump. The typical conventional air source system will not work efficiently in the colder weather. Colder weather of the Northern regions of the USA and Canada. Heat pumps make a great efficient source of heat for many people that live in moderate climates.

Geography & Heat Pumps – Air Source versus Geothermal Heat Pump Heating Systems

For instance, air source heat pumps are a good option for mild and moderate climate regions. Ground-source or geothermal heat pumps are efficient in climates with similar heating and cooling loads. The most common types of systems are the air-source and ground-source heat pumps. Although ground source systems are more expensive to install, they are more efficient and less noisy.

A different alternative to ground source heat pumps that have high-efficiency ranges is the inverter duty system. These are like inverter duty mini-splits. The are some conventional  inverter duty air conditioner and heat pumps systems produced by Maytag, Broan, Westinghouse, and Frigidaire. These systems come close to matching the efficiency of geothermal or ground source heat pumps. As a high-efficiency alternative these high-efficiency air source systems can be installed for less cost. Much lower cost than a geothermal system. This gives the consumer good value along with reduced utility bills.

Air Source Versus Geothermal Heat Pump Heating Systems - Heat Pump Installation & Size

Residential Heat Pumps

However, to make heat pumps work efficiently, they should be installed properly. One should choose the right sized pump that can fulfill the heating and cooling demands of the house. While selecting a heat pump one should buy a device with a higher Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF. The system should also be fitted with demand-defrost control. This minimizes the defrost cycles and reduces supplementary and heat pump energy use.

Sizing

What size heat pump do you need? Heat pumps are sized accordingly to the temperature loads and R-rating factors of the home. Special software is used to calculate a manual J load calculation. The calculation is based on the materials the home is built with including doors and windows. Also, it takes into account geographical considerations for sizing requirements. The software Manual J calculation takes into account what the size of the system should be for your home.

Heat pumps are much more cost-effective than other conventional heating devices. They are also becoming more commonly used to heat swimming pools, and hot water for household use. See our geothermal reviews listings pages for hybrid hot water heaters reviews. Geothermal ground source heat pumps can be outfitted with a desuperheater. A desuperheater will make hot water for domestic. Therefore, someone with a geothermal heat pump system that is outfitted with a desuperheater will not need a regular hot water heater. Finally, the geothermal system can produce hot water.

Goodman Condenser Flood Protection – Air Source versus Geothermal Heat Pump Heating Systems

This heat pump condensing unit has been installed atop the platform. The area where this condenser is located is prone to flooding and the platform raises the heat pump condenser at least one foot above flood plain. This is usually required depending on the municipality or government agency in charge of mechanical and electrical inspections. If you live in a flood-prone area it is wise to protect the equipment from flood damage. Heat pumps may continue to run after being flooded. However, the reliability is drastically reduced. Moreover, you will definitely experience mechanical and electrical problems with the equipment.

Air Source versus Geothermal Heat Pump Heating Systems - Conclusion

It is not uncommon for air conditioner or heat pump condensing units to experience corroded electrical connections. Salt or brackish water will cause mechanical-electrical components to fail prematurely. Take measures to protect your equipment in flood-prone areas. You will save yourself a ton of hassles in the future if Mother Nature were to decide to flood your condenser. It could mean the difference of you having heating and cooling after a flood or not having heating and cooling. Moreover, a wise person would want to have some air conditioning and heating comfort inside their dwelling to ease the stress of going through a major disaster.

Geothermal systems are more efficient than air source heat pump systems. They work better in colder climates but are more expensive to install. Modern air source heat pumps are less expensive. The top air source models can give you an efficiency rating higher than a geothermal heat pump system. If efficiency was my main concern and my budget was my secondary concern I would likely go for the top of the line air source heat pump. Air source over a geothermal heat pump especially if I lived in the South. Finally, if I lived in the North my decision would probably shift to a geothermal heat pump system.

Air Source versus Geothermal Heat Pump Heating Systems - Video

Air Source Versus Geothermal Heat Pumps for Heating Systems